Gov’t Appreciates Public, Officers as Mudik Went Well

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has expressed appreciation to all parties who have contributed to the smooth execution of mudik (annual homecoming during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr) this year.

“The President expressed his thanks to everyone, especially those who went on mudik this year, for their discipline for complying with the provisions implemented by the Government, including discipline in using roads while on the road, observing health protocols, and others,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy said in a press statement after attending a limited meeting on mudik evaluation led by President Jokowi at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Tuesday (05/24).

Muhadjir also said that the President expressed appreciation to related ministries/institutions that have run a genuinely sound governance on mudik, including Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing, Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), regional governments, and state-owned enterprises, particularly, oil and gas company Pertamina, toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, and ferry operator PT ASDP (Indonesia Ferry).

Muhadjir pointed out that the Government used six indicators to evaluate mudik, namely traffic governance, COVID-19 pandemic management, availability of staples, availability of fuel oil, distribution of social assistance, and booster vaccination.

“Thank God, we have exceeded the expectation of all six indicators or six variables. So it is good in terms of traffic governance, availability of fuel oil and staples, and COVID-19 management, thank God there is no increase that is quite significant, in fact, the number tends to decrease, and also in terms of vaccination coverage, including booster,” he said.

Regarding social assistance distribution, Muhadjir stated that Ministry of Social Affairs and Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration have distributed social assistance earlier for three months at once, April, May, and June, so that the people can enjoy the benefits of the social assistance during Eid al-Fitr.

“Hence [assistance for] three months was given at once in April before Eid. Therefore, underprivileged people can truly enjoy Eid because the social assistance was given earlier by Minister of Social Affairs and Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, was given in advance for three months, not later, which allowed them to enjoy it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Muhadjir added, the Government cooperated with Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Industry to ensure food availability and stable prices of staples.

“If there is an increase, it will be a normal increase because during Eid, food with the highest price increase is chicken meat and beef. That is normal because during Eid, there must be people who cook opor (chicken in coconut milk stew) and opor needs chicken and beef too,” he remarked. (TGH/UN) (DH/HD)